Brea students make a dog's day

Spencer Herbert, 9, left, Jamison Cooper, 11, and Brian DeFranco, 10, pet Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. Students at Olinda made a blanket and donated it and toys to the pooch, who was going to be killed at a Los Angeles shelter. The dog and his new owner traveled from Agoura Hills to accept the holiday gifts.JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Excitement was the word while students at Olinda Elementary School in Brea waited Thursday for Homer to arrive.

Jody Ralyea, Homer's owner, drove to the school from Agoura Hills to receive gifts the students had made and donated for the dog after hearing his story.

The school's student council members "were talking about giving," said Stacy Yoder, the school's administrative assistant and student council adviser.

"Don't forget the animals!" she told them.

The kids were eager to help. So, she told them about Homer.

Homer popped up on Facebook in September, a sad-faced chow mix sitting in a Los Angeles shelter, looking for all the world as if he hadn't a prayer.

He might not have, if not for Leave No Paws Behind. The Burbank-based rescue group, which specializes in saving old and sick dogs facing sure death in shelters, took Homer in and matched him with a foster home.

"My vet told me he likely had lived outside his whole life," said Toby Wisneski, the group's founder. The vet called Homer's story one of "a pure case of starvation" and "absolute neglect," Wisneski said.

But Homer thrived in his foster home. Unfortunately, his foster dad was in the military and would get called out of town for days at a time. Everyone felt Homer needed more stability.

Enter Ralyea. She had taken Homer's picture at the shelter and had followed his story. She offered to foster, Wisneski said.

Soon, Ralyea realized Homer "needed to be in my home."

She officially adopted Homer about three weeks ago, not long after she had to put her beloved boxer to sleep.

"I was not going to get another dog for a while," she said. "But when the need is there ... "

The need, as far as Homer is concerned, has been met. He entered the school all smiles and wagging tail, and sat patiently while the children met him one by one.

And he sat patiently on the blanket the kids had made while they surrounded him and joined them in smiling for the camera.

Spencer Herbert, 9, left, Jamison Cooper, 11, and Brian DeFranco, 10, pet Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. Students at Olinda made a blanket and donated it and toys to the pooch, who was going to be killed at a Los Angeles shelter. The dog and his new owner traveled from Agoura Hills to accept the holiday gifts. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, mugs for the camera at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Riley Herbert, 11, presents a stuffed animal toy to Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, while the dog's owner, Jody Ralyea of Agoura Hills, smiles and looks on at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, stands on his new blanket, courtesy of students at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Riley Herbert, 11, presents a stuffed animal toy to Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, while the dog's owner, Jody Ralyea of Agoura Hills, smiles and looks on at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Homer, an 8-year-old chow mix, is greeted by students at Olinda Elementary School in Brea on Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Students at Olinda Elementary School in Brea hang a welcome sign for Homer, a visiting chow mix, Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.